Kitchen Cabinetry - The Basics

            Your kitchen is a place where people gather together and make memories and food. It’s a place of comfort and warmth, fun and learning. Because your kitchen is such an important part of your home life, it should be a haven, a place where one can feel comfortable and which accurately reflects your (or your family’s) personality.

            One of the best ways to go about doing this is to have a nice looking kitchen. Cabinets tend to be the first thing people notice, followed by size and appliances. If you don’t like the way your kitchen looks now, try giving it a makeover. Today’s mini-DIY project focuses on your cabinets.

            If you don’t have enough money right now, it’s not a wise idea to try and switch out your cabinets, even if you dislike them. Instead, start with something smaller to change your kitchen’s look and feel a little bit.

            Changing your cabinet’s door handles can be a great way to personalize your kitchen and make it something more of what you want. There are many different styles of handle out there, and what you choose is entirely based on you. You could go with traditional and scour antique shops for the right vintage handle, or you could go sleek and modern and look for shiny chrome or stainless steel handles. You could go for whimsical and try and find unicorn, seahorse, or other animal handles. You could even go nerdy and look for Iron Man, Captain America, Superman, Batman, or other cool superhero or tv show logos.

            Regardless of what you pick, upgrading your cabinet’s handles can be a great way to personalize your kitchen while making it more of what you want it to be. This project can be done fairly quickly and requires little money and installation know-how.

            Have fun, be creative, and most importantly, happy holidays folks!

Why do my ducts need to be insulated?

            You may have heard of insulting your home to help keep the internal temperature stable during cold or hot months, but have you ever considered insulating your ducts? If you live in a newer home, your home might have already come with insulated ducts, but if it didn’t, consider the following information.

            Insulating your ducts is important because it’s used to provide better heating and cooling efficiency as well as prevent the duct from freezing during the cold winter months. Though insulation may sound like it’s only about keeping the warmth in, it’s also about keeping warmth out. On average, homes without insulated ducts see a 20% loss in efficiency when using their central heating or cooling. This means that 20% of the heated or cooled air is lost in leaks. This can add to an already high energy bill and if left unattended, this can result in disastrous wear and tear for the ducts as well as being unable to properly maintain the temperature in your home. But that’s only if you have a leak somewhere. If you don’t, you instead face the chance of accumulating condensation on the inside of the cut, which will eventually lead to rust and corrode you duct from the inside out. In either situation, if you’re using uninsulated ducts to transport air, you’ll have to eventually replace them.

            The good news is insulating duct isn’t expensive to purchase and install. By doing this, you skip over all the nasty consequences that may occur after years of use on your uninsulated ducts. Before you start surfing the web for insulated duct, let’s go over your situation.

            Start by considering your duct location. If there is a massive difference between the air that’s in the duct and the air that surrounds the duct, you’ll want to add insulation here. After you’ve mapped out these differences in temperature locations, consider what your duct itself is made of. Most commonly, you’ll see your duct is made of galvanized steel. Sometimes, the interior of these ducts are lined with insulation, typically 1” thick fiberglass. Take a peek inside these duct networks—if you notice they’re already lined, you don’t need to worry about insulting their exterior. If they’re not lined, then you have some choices on how to add insulation.

            If you’re planning on simply wrapping the exterior of the duct, all you need to do is purchase the insulation material. There are two general types of insulation wraps, insulation sleeves and fiberglass blanket wraps. Insulation sleeves come in a pre-measured length and may have one side that’s adhesive. Simply cut the sleeve to the proper length and wrap your duct within it. The other type of insulation wrap is the fiberglass blanket. With these, you literally just wrap it around the duct. If neither of these materials can be found at your local hardware store, try searching for foil-backed bubble wrap. Though this alternative won’t deliver the same type of insulation power and performance as the first two if you buy the cheap brands, this problem can be easily remedied by buying one of the more expensive brands.

            If that doesn’t sound to your liking, visit plumbersstock.com to browse their selection of insulating ducts. You may even choose to replace the entire duct itself with an insulated-interior duct. Whatever you choose, you won’t find it cheaper online anywhere else. 

How to Care for and Maintain your AC

            Today, our city got blasted by a massive snowstorm. Cars were getting stuck, visibility was poor, and people were slipping and sliding all over the quickly-forming icy roads and sidewalks. At a time like this, the last thing anyone wants to think about is their AC unit. Why would you think about something that’s meant to keep you cold, right?

            Even during the frigid winter season, it’s a good idea to think about the coming spring and summer seasons. If your AC unit isn’t properly protected during these cold months, when summer rolls around, you’ll find yourself sweating and swearing as your AC unit refuses to work. During the winter, you should make sure your AC unit is properly protected against snowfall and debris. The best way to go about doing this is to cover up the outdoor unit with a tarp or some other sort of protective material. This will protect the unit from the harsh winter weather and allow it to last longer.

            Protecting your AC unit from the bad weather is only one aspect of properly caring for and maintaining your unit. The main kind of maintenance includes doing routine checkups on you AC during those hot summer months to ensure it’s working at full potential with the highest energy efficiency possible. When it comes down to maintenance, there are two big things you always want to check: filters and coils.

            Filters are a huge part of your AC unit, as they’ll filter out dust from the air to make every breath cleaner and healthier. If your filter is clogged or dirty, it’ll block the normal airflow and make the air that does come through polluted. Because of this, a dirty and clogged filter can reduce your system’s efficiency by as much as 15% and may cause respiratory problems or even asthma attacks to those that are sensitive to pollution.

            When you’re looking replace your filter (say the filter is too worn to be cleaned), consider buying reusable filters for your unit. If reusable, you’ll be able to save some money on buying new filters. If not, your filter will need to be replaced every month to two months while you’re using the AC.

            Another huge part of maintaining your AC unit is making sure the coils are in good shape. By this, I mean make sure the coils aren’t covered in dirt. If the coils become too dirty, they won’t be able to properly absorb heat from the atmosphere and your home won’t cool down as nicely. Additionally, dirty coils means you’ll have your AC on longer to try and cool down your home, which means a higher energy bill and bigger energy waste.

            To ensure your coils stay clean, check on them every month to two months. Since these coils are found on your AC unit outside, heavy sandstorms, dust storms, and even windstorms can add debris and dirt to them. If the environment outside is particularly dusty, take preventive measures to care for your AC unit. If the unit is near foliage, make sure the plants are trimmed back to allow 2 feet of space for the AC system.

            When you think it’s time to buy replacement parts, check plumbersstock.com for some great discounts on the tools and equipment you need: https://www.plumbersstock.com/category/8/hvac/

Air Humidifiers: Unmasked!

A large population of people today live in dry, arid areas. In the United States alone, almost the entire western population lives in desert climates. We’re so used to living in these temperatures, we sometimes forget to think about the fact that humans are not meant to live in these sorts of environments without help. Sure, we can all adapt to varying climates, but dry air can take a serious toll on our bodies physically.

Since our bodies are made mostly of water, our bodies may be subject to adverse effects if we’re in dry temperatures too long. Things such as dehydration, itchy, dry skin, and even eczema are all side-effects you could experience if you move somewhere like Utah, Colorado, or Arizona.

Thankfully, there’s an easy way to counteract these effects. Besides lathering your skin with moisturizing lotion all day, you could increase the humidity level in your home.

How?

To give yourself a more balanced climate, consider investing in an air humidifier. Most people are under the impression that all air humidifiers do is increase humidity, but in reality, air humidifiers increase humidity, lower the air temperature, and improve your home’s overall air quality and circulation.

You may not be sure if you need an air humidifier. To help, I’ve made a short list of circumstances that have low humidity, so if any one of these environments sounds like the one you live in, you probably do.

·         Dry climate – I mentioned these already, but these are dry regions that don’t receive an abundance of rain, places like Arizona and Texas. In major cities, an air humidifier will also provide you relief from the surrounding air pollution.

·         Static – It’s interesting, but one of the leading causes of static is low humidity. If your home is constantly generating electric shocks, adding an air humidifier to your central home unit (or even a single room) will definitely help.

·         Obvious health symptoms – If you constantly get dry or chapped lips, coughs, have dry or itchy skin, or feel like your nose is irritated from the dry air, you need a humidifier.

·         Sickness – Often times, if you’re sick, your nose will become congested and your throat will feel dry, painful, and raspy. Having an air humidifier by you bedside during the length of your illness will soothe your symptoms.


    Types
      If you need an air humidifier, that doesn’t mean you’re limited to only a portable system. There are many different types of air humidifiers out there that are fit for every sort of budget and lifestyle. Depending on your specific circumstances, you may want a whole home unit (this works alongside your central heating and cooling system) or a portable unit that works for only a single room. Keep in mind the bigger the size, the bigger the price!

While all air humidifiers help when it comes to improving your home’s overall air quality, if you find yourself in a smoky home or area, or if you simply want your air filtered, an air humidifier can do that. Granted, a filtering air humidifier will cost more money, but it is an available option.

Regardless of what you’re looking for, Plumbersstock probably the air humidifier you need for a cheaper price than buying it elsewhere. To browse their selection, click here and you’ll be redirected.

Aluminum Backsplash: Give your Kitchen an Edge!

            After all the heavy subjects I’ve been pressing for the last few weeks, I wanted to take a break and talk about something fun and fresh! Aluminum and steel are stark, robust metals which can add a splash of vibrant décor to any kitchen. Today, I’m going to teach you all a quick weekend project that will be sure to leave your guests impressed the next time they come over. All you’ll need is a full day, a few spare bucks, and a creative mind! If you’re ready, let’s get started!

Sleek, beautiful, and very minimalistic. 

            This project offers full on creativity from the very start! Stainless steel and aluminum tiles can come in a huge array of finishes and designs, so pick the one you like best from a trusted home improvement or online source. Pick wisely, since these tiles will be the main attraction and eye-catcher. Start by printing off some pictures of potential steel designs. Place them up to the surface they’ll be covering and evaluate. How do they look? More importantly, how do they fit? You’ll want to be careful to cut through as little of the tiles as possible or the end result will look sloppy.

            Once you’ve got your tile of choice picked out and ready to go, use some glue to stick the tiles to the wall. All you need is a few dabs at each corner. If you so choose, leave some spaces between the tiles and grout them just like you would ceramic tiles. Not only does this add a professional and edgy look, but the caulk will help the tiles set better and more securely.

            And that’s it! All of a sudden you’ve transformed a drab and plain kitchen backwall into a fun and modern scene that’s sure to make a splash! To synchronize your new wall with your kitchen, consider putting out some stainless steel or chrome utensils, such as hanging pots and pans, utensils in a small utensil stand, or teapots. Make sure you don’t crowd the available space and lay out the objects sparingly. This will give your kitchen a minimalistic look while amping the modern feel.

            If you want some more in-depth information on exactly how to create your new backwall, click the following link: http://www.familyhandyman.com/kitchen/stainless-steel-kitchen-backsplash/view-all.

            Happy kitchen decorating!

Small Business Owners: Sloan Valve

            Let’s face it: if you’re the owner of a small or local business, you’ve got more to worry about than just inventory and finances. You’ve also got your plate full with trying to compete with the competition and keep your customers satisfied in every way possible. If your small business has a public restroom, that’s an extra sum of money and attention you’ll have to pay to the bathroom, since you’ll need to make sure everything is in good working order, refilled, and clean.

            But have you ever stopped and thought about possibly updating some of your old toilet or urinal fixtures with something more water conservative? If you have, that’s great! Saving water in your public restroom is a good idea for more than just the environment—your wallet will be happy as well! The biggest problem with getting those end results is being willing to invest in something that’s waterless now.

            If you’re like most people, you’re a little weary of trying something new. Most people like using the same technology that they’ve always used, because it’s understandable to them and familiar. Having a waterless fixture can be a scary choice to make, because you may not be sure if the invest will be worth it in the long run. However, before you rule out this option, think about this: Suppose you have a regular urinal. Suppose that every day, you have twelve men come through and use it. In one year, that would be the equivalent as using 6,500+ gallons of water or 24,800+ liters of water. If we were to replace that with a waterless urinal, this is the amount of water a year you would be SAVING.

            Let’s talk hygiene for a moment. You may be concerned that a waterless urinal would get dirty quicker and thus need to be cleaned more often. You may also be concerned that this sort of urinal would cause the odors from the urine to rise up and would stink up the rest of the bathroom. Although these are reasonable fears, this isn’t the case with Sloan waterless urinals. Sloan is a huge name on the market today for flush valves. If you’ve ever gone into a public restroom that has a manual flush valve, chances are it’s from Sloan. Even so, Sloan’s prized jewel comes in the shape of their waterless urinals. Unlike a generic urinal, these urinals are angles at such a way that gravity pulls the urine down and through the pipes. Although you may think that they would get dirty quicker, this has been shown to not get any dirtier than you average water-filled urinal. When it does get dirty, however, it can be cleaned like any other urinal.

            As for hygiene, the concern that the urine would raise up a disgusting scent is nearly non-existent for Sloan. Sloan uses what’s called a trap, which is really just a cup filled with water and oil and placed in the drain. When the urine flows past it, the urine sinks. Any of the urine’s associated gases then get stuck under the oil and are unable to rise. This makes for a very clean and hygienic solution to what otherwise would be a deal-breaker, even if it were conserving water.

            Even if you’re not interested in purchasing a waterless urinal, take a look at some other commercial plumbing fixtures here: https://www.plumbersstock.com/category/28/commercial/ for a chance to save big on anything else you may need, such as water faucets, soap dispensers, and soap refills. 

You Want a Wood Burning Stove. . . You Just Didn't Know it Yet

            If you’re like me, you’ve recently started considering buying and installing a new wood burning stove for your home. While they may seem antique and rustic, it’s that very feature that will add an air of elegance, sophistication, and coziness to your home.

            If you’re considering getting a wood burning stove but aren’t too sure about it, here are the top 5 reasons why you should invest in one:

A wood burning stove can complete any living room.

Wood burning stoves can come in a large range of different colors and finishes.

A more modern look at today's newest wood burning stoves.

            5. Wood burning stoves are more economic and budget friendly – Imagine what you’re paying for heating now and cut that by at least a third. Wood that is bundled for sale and ready-cut costs about a third of the cost for natural gas, electricity, or oil. Because wood is more affordable, warming your home will also be more affordable since the only thing you need to do this is wood, a match, and your stove.

            If you can’t afford the price of wood all at once, you may be able to find enough scrap wood to fuel your stove. Using “free wood” means you’re collecting wood from the ground or woodlands but not actually cutting anything yourself.

            Additionally, once you have that wood and your stove is in use, you’ll notice a huge drop in your heating bill because of just how much heat a wood burning stove gives off. If a fireplace is 20% efficient at keeping you warm, a wood-burning stove is 3 times more effective, working at an incredible 80% efficiency. This means that 80% of the wood’s energy is released as heat for your home. The difference between this and your average fireplace is that most of the wood’s energy just goes up through your chimney as smoke before every getting a chance to heat your home.

            4. Wood burning stoves burn cleaner – You may think that just because you’re burning wood, you’re releasing more carbon dioxide into the air, which is bad for the environment. The truth is that you’re burning cleaner. How? Well, if you look at the origin of the wood, the tree that it was a part of naturally consumed CO2 as it aged, releasing oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis. By the time the tree is cut, the same amount of CO2 is released into the air, regardless of whether you burn it or it rots.

            If you then look at the path for fuel alternatives such as propane, natural gas, or oil, you’ll notice that these fuels don’t play into the carbon cycle by taking carbon from the environment. Because of this, burning these fuels will actually add more CO2 into the air than burning wood.

            3. Wood burning stoves are great backups – Imagine you’re at home, using your heater and watching tv when all of a sudden the power goes out. Since your heater runs on electricity, it stops working. Your tv goes out and none of the lights work, so you can’t see. Imagine the power is out for a few days, so as the days go by, your home gets colder and colder and the only light you have is the sunlight during the day. On top of that, your kitchen stove is electrical, so you can’t cook. Thankfully, your fridge is plugged into a backup generator, so your food doesn’t go bad.

            Now let’s image this with a WBS. The stove is in use when the blackout occurs, and since it runs on wood, the heating stays and you have a circle of light. During the day, you use the sunlight to see and cook on your stove, and during the nights, the stove provides continuous heat and light.

            While this scenario is a little far-fetched, owning a wood burning stove is a great backup in case you ever lose power, especially if you’re relying on electricity to heat your home.

            2. Wood burning stoves provide necessary psychological comfort – You may think that WBS are simply fixtures used to heat your home, but in reality they are so much more than that. They provide humans and even their animal companions with a great psychological comfort. There’s just something about that rich aroma that instinctively calms us down, and looking into the flames can bring us a sense of peace, relaxation, and safety. It is believed that our most primitive human ancestors used wood burning to provide warmth and a feeling of safety, instincts that we still feel today.

            1. Wood burning stoves are beautiful and can bring your family together – Wood burning stoves are gorgeous fixtures which make your home feel more complete and cozy. Nothing hints “cuddling” better than a toasty fire, and people instinctively gather where there is warmth. Having a WBS is more than just for good looks, as it can encourage family bonding and time spent together, meaning your family may come together and do a family event, such as watching a movie or playing a board game.

            If you’re interested in investing in a wood burning stove this Christmas season, make sure you check out https://www.plumbersstock.com/category/427/ for some great deals on a huge variety of brands.

The Wonder of the Rain Bird

            Good afternoon, everyone!

            As you get ready for winter, remember that the winter season affects more than just your home. The cold and biting weather will also have an adverse effect on your trees, lawn, and garden. Thankfully, having a good sprinkler system can help you nurse your outdoor oasis back to a green and stunning health.

            If you’re looking to replace your old sprinkler system, I recommend Rain Bird. These systems are affordable and easy to install and often get positive reviews from homeowners all across the United States. To help you learn a little more about Rain Bird and what makes them stand out from the competition, I’ve made a short list describing all the good (pros) and the bad (cons) characteristics of owning a Rain Bird Sprinkler System.

A beautiful and precise Rain Bird sprinkler head.

THE GOOD:

• Aesthetically pleasing – The sprinkler system by itself is beautiful and elegant. Powerful, accurate, and sleek, these black sprinklers will add a touch of sophistication and luxury to your home.
• Individual programming – Each Rain Bird valve can be set to start at different times from each other. Not only can you program individual start times, but you can also adjust different watering durations for each valve. This allows your maximum control of your watering schedule and zones.
• Easy to use dial – The Rain Bird valve allows you to quickly and conveniently switch between watering functions. The dial is easy to read, understand, and program.
• Quick installation – Great for beginners to novices. Like all brands, you’ll need to connect the individual wires to the device, but unlike other brands, this is easy. For most brands (DIG, Orbit), you need to press hard to insert the wire into the connector. Not for Rain Bird.
• Built-in RAM – If you’ve ever been through a blackout, you know that most smart electronics, such as plug-in clocks, game systems, and tvs, “reset” themselves. To prevent against this, Rain Bird has a built in RAM which stores and saves your watering schedule in case of a blackout.
• Friendly user-interface – The information panel is clear and easy to read and understand. The information panel also informs the user of the next station that is going to be watered and provides the date and time it will start.

THE BAD:

• No “Water all Zones Now” feature – For a modern sprinkler, this oversight is hard to believe.
• Fixed time watering cycles – If you’re looking to water your lawn more than once automatically, you’ll be disappointed to hear that the Rain Bird system is not currently capable of doing this. Instead, it runs on a “fixed time” cycle.For example, pretend you wanted to water your lawn three times a day, starting at 6am, 5pm, and 8pm. While your first start time would go off without a hitch, the internal computer of the sprinkler system would compute the following algorithm:
  12 hours / number of cycles = time between each cycle.
  Thus, your lawn would be watered at 6am, 10am, and 2pm. There is no way to override this but watering your lawn manually each time after the first cycle.

THE OVERALL VERDICT:

            If you’re looking for a great and affordable sprinkler system, Rain Bird is one of the best options. With plenty of user-friendly features on hand, Rain Bird provides a satisfying experience for the average homeowner, assuming you don’t want to automatically repeat your watering cycle twice or more in one day.  Add to that the sleek and polished design and you’re looking at one of the nicest sprinkler systems available on the market today.

            If you’re interested in purchasing a Rain Bird sprinkler system for your home, make sure you take a look at www.plumbersstock.com for great deals on the sprinkler system you want at an affordable, discounted price.

~ Sam

Stay Warm WITHOUT your Heater this Winter

We’ve been talking about prepping your home with plumbing appliances for the upcoming winter season lately, but today I wanted to take a break and talk about how to STAY WARM IN A COLD HOUSE. You may be cold due to the fact that your new heating system hasn’t yet been installed, or perhaps you can’t afford a high heating bill. Whatever the reason, I’ve compiled a list of some ways to stay warm this season WITHOUT the high heating costs.

·         The best and easiest way to stay warm is to dress warm. For times like this, a hat, particularly one that covers your ears, is going to be useful. The reason for this is that a large amount of your body heat escapes through your head, so keeping your head covered is crucial to staying warm. Also consider dressing in layers with wool or cotton clothing and carry a blanket around with you if it’s still not enough.

·         Another great way to keep warm is to drink hot drinks or soups. Things like hot chocolate, tea, or coffee will raise your core temperature so you may find yourself feeling warm and fuzzy on the inside. As an additional bonus, drinking hot beverages when you’re anxious or stressed can be a very relaxing thing.

·         Use hair dryers. After a nice, hot shower or bath, using a hair dryer over your body, clothes, and shoes will make you feel toasty warm. Drying your hair will also keep the water in your hair from frosting (and as we mentioned, this is important as heat escapes mainly from your head).

There are a couple of quick tips on keeping warm this winter. If you’d like more guidelines, make sure you check out http://www.wikihow.com/Stay-Warm-at-Home-Without-a-Heater for more easy ways to say warm!

What's that? A New Thermostat you say?

            Hey there folks!

            If you read my last post, you’ll be familiar with the topic of heating systems. Last week, I mentioned that if you were looking to upgrade your forced air heating system for a hot water boiler heating system, you could save costs in energy as well as time on maintenance while receiving a better distributed heat with no drafts or cold spots. As with any heating (or cooling) system, you’ll need a thermostat to regulate and control the temperature in your house. Today, I’ll talk about the top 2 thermostats available on the market if you’re looking to upgrade your old rinky-dink thermostat. If you’re sincerely interested in upgrading, definitely make sure you check out www.plumberstock.com for some fantastic deals on thermostats.

            Number One: The Nest

            This jewel of a thermostat places first in almost every top 10 thermostat list, and this list is no different.

            The Nest is a learning thermostat, meaning it learns what temperatures you like when by paying attention to the adjustments you make. After roughly a week of use, this thermostat will create a program for your home based on your personal heating and cooling habits but do so in a way that saves you the most energy possible.

            Wrapped in a sleek package, this thermostat packs a huge punch when it comes to beauty and innovation. The Nest begins to learn as soon as it’s connected to the heating and cooling system and you make that first adjustment to the temperature. Once done, it will take note of how many times you adjust the temperature and when you adjust the temperature, faithfully keeping track of your habits during the first week. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, the Nest doesn’t stop there. It takes it a step further by reading the light sources around it, the humidity of the home, and any motion that is taking place. In this way, the Nest can “sense” if you’re not home and adjust to “Auto Away” mode, turning itself (and thus stopping the AC or heater) off and therefore saving you on your energy costs.

            Want more? The Nest can be programmed from anywhere as long as you have some sort of wireless connection. This means that you can be on your way home from work and turn the thermostat on from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop so you come home to a warm (or cool) house.

            Have multiple Nests? If your home offers a wi-fi connection, the Nests can communicate with one another and coordinate a temperature schedule for the individual rooms they occupy, thus creating an ideal temperature schedule for your whole house.

            Priced at an average $260, you’ll get all the best technology and heating advancements with the Nest.

Number Two: Honeywell’s Prestige 2.0 Comfort System

Looking for a nice thermostat without paying extreme out of pocket costs? The Honeywell system is for you! Similar to the Nest but without the ultra-extravagant price, this thermostat learns your personal heating and cooling habits. However, unlike the Nest, this system doesn’t learn them intuitively—instead, the Prestige asks you a series of questions about your usage habits and then programs itself according to your answers to provide you ultimate comfort and convenience in temperature while saving you the most energy possible.

Like the Nest, this system also allows wireless control from any smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Also, depending on your current heating and cooling system, the Prestige has the ability to control indoor humidity as well as view outdoor humidity and temperature.

If you’re looking for a smart thermostat but don’t want to spend $260, this system retails at an average of $220 and offers just about the same things as the Nest.  

The Tale of the Knight (and the boiler)

            I don’t know about you folks out there, but it’s certainly getting colder by the day! If you live in Utah (where I’m originally from and currently visiting), you’ll know what I’m talking about when I say Utah only has 2 seasons: winter and construction. While this is especially true for Northern Utah, I suppose it can apply to other states.

            But, especially because it’s a weekend, who doesn’t want to come home to a nice, heated home and relax after a long and tedious week of work? If you have a good heating system, you can do just that. If not, you may need a couple of extra blankets to wrap yourself up in. If your position is the latter, maybe because your furnace burned out or your boiler just doesn’t heat up the way it used to, it sounds like it’s time for a new heating system.

            You always have the choice between a forced air heating system and a boiler heating system, and while these two types of heating systems have their own individual pros and cons, today we’ll only be discussing the boiler heating system.

            If you’re familiar with how a boiler works, this will be a quick recap. Boilers work to heat your home by heating water and then transporting it through the home in a series of tubes. Between this and a forced air system, boilers are unique as they can heat up single rooms at a time instead of the whole house, which is especially convenient if you’re going to spend most of your time in the one room.

            If it’s time to get your heating system replaced, now’s the best time to do it before the cold really kicks in. Consider a Lochinvar Knight heating boiler for your home if you haven’t already.

            Lochinvar is a world leader in the boiler industry and offers plenty of different kinds of boilers for your home and budget. Being a leader in the industry for over 3 generations, Lochinvar has continually shown their commitment to innovation and energy efficient machinery by applying the most advanced technologies to each new Knight boiler in the lineup.

            The Knight offers up to 98% thermal efficiency, meaning you can have peace of mind that heating your home won’t cost you an arm and a leg this Christmas season. The Knight also offers a smart system operating panel which tells you all the different heating zone temperatures and information you need to know, right on the screen. This family of boilers comes equipped with combustion air, specific venting technologies, and a precise heating control which is meant to keep your home green and eco-friendly without sacrificing the warmth.

            When we look under the hood, the Knight becomes more than just pretty piece of machinery. The Knight is a fully condensing modulating boiler, meaning it uses a state-of-the-art electronic control to optimize the energy efficiency for your home while smoothly regulating the temperature of your home through the seasons.

            The truth is, winter is approaching fast and either your home will be aglow in warmth, or it won’t. If you’re looking to replace your heating system and think that a boiler would be a great match for your home’s lifestyle, make sure you check out www.plumbersstock.com for some great deals this Christmas season.

            Until we meet again!

FUEL your Desire for Power Tools

            Hey there everyone!

            Today we’ll take a break from all the previous plumbing talk and talk about something else: power tools.

            While this subject may seem entirely unrelated, keep in mind that power tools are commonly used for renovations throughout the home, including the bathroom and kitchen where plumbing is most prominent. Because power tools are used in larger projects, I thought it would be a good idea to let you take a breath from plumbing and think about something different.

            This article will talk specifically about the Milwakuee M18 FUEL line, an exclusive line of extreme-performance cordless power tools.  If you think you might be interested in purchasing a Milwaukee FUEL product after this, make sure you check out www.plumbersstock.com for great lineups and discounts.

            In late 2011, Milwaukee announced that they were unveiling their new M18 FUEL lineup which integrated 3 advanced technologies to bring about a super-powerful power tool. The three features of the FUEL line are the POWERSTATE brushless motor, the REDLITHIUM battery technology, and the REDLINK PLUS Intelligence. The integration of these three technologies were meant to provide a new standard for durability, total runtime, and performance.

            The new POWERSTATE brushless motor works harder and has an extended lifespan when compared to the leading competitors, all the while reducing noise and cooling down faster to give the user years of heavy-duty and reliable maintenance-free performance. This motor also has the ability to convert energy into power and torque faster and more efficiently for superior performance.

            Milwaukee’s REDLITHIUM batteries provide a significantly longer runtime and faster recharge time while affording the user with more power when in use. This battery also delivers better overall performance when working in harsh conditions such as extreme cold or heat. Packed with Milwaukee’s amazing durability, the REDLITHIUM battery can perform in climates as low as -18 degrees Celsius with no problem.

            Finally, Milwaukee’s REDLINK PLUS Intelligence external hardware and internal software is one of the world’s most advanced systems for cordless power tools. This technology is meant to maximize performance with a best-in-class communications system between your tool, battery, and charger.

            If that weren’t enough, the new M18 FUEL line bundles all of these incredible and integrated technologies into tools that are lighter and (slightly) smaller in size than the leading competitors.

            If you’re looking to replace some old tools or simply looking to invest in better quality tools, the FUEL line might be for you. Made with the professional in mind, these tools will pack a hefty punch in performance and, due to their nature, should be used often to make them a truly worthwhile investment.  

A Beautiful Pond

             I wanted to start today’s article by showing a picture of something that isn’t incredibly common, but is incredibly beautiful to have in your backyard: a pond.

            A pond has the ability to turn your backyard into more than just a patch of grass with a tree in it—a pond can add layers of depth and definition as you add fish, aquatic plants, and even waterfalls or streams flowing into it. Ponds are gorgeous and small ecosystems which truly show the diversity of life in the world around us.

            Last week, I visited a close friend of mine at her home. When I arrived, I noticed that she had renovated her backyard by adding a small, circular pond. I was pleasantly surprised, as the pond was a biological wonder to behold, and asked her plenty of questions about it, like what kind of aquatic life lived in and around it, what kind of mechanism she used for the waterfall, and how hard it was to maintain. Naturally, I was interested in the plumbing aspect of it all, so I bombarded her with question after question about the pumps she used (since I knew that a pump would be necessary for recirculating the water). She, as most of my friends are about me when it comes to plumbing, was naturally dismayed after the third consequetive question, but to her credit, she did answer all of my questions to the best of her ability.

            I came to find that she used a Grundfos submersible water pump inside her pond to circulate the water. Another Grundfos pump powered the waterfall, and combined, the two pumps worked together to ensure high-oxygen levels in the water and prevent stagnant water.

            As the plumbing portion of this, I admit that even pumps are considered plumbing and are vastly important when it comes to outdoor or underground assistance. Submersible pumps, specifically, can help boost the water pressure in your home, channel water effectively in an irrigation system, and work wonders for a backyard pond.

            About the company now. . . I wasn’t excessively familiar with Grundfos and their products simply because they dealt with pumps and products for projects I hadn’t ever tackled, like boosting my water pressure, adding a pond, or recirculating and transporting water from a well to a home. As it is, I did a little bit of research on the company and found the following cool information:

·         Grundfos is a world-recognized leader when it comes to their products, especially their pumps. Grundfos services industrial and private customers in places all around the world and offers the latest hydraulic equipment to satisfy their customer’s needs.

·         Grundfos slogan is “Be – Think – Innovate.” They truly live up to that slogan by providing energy-efficient products (which in turn can save you thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the product) coupled with high-grade corrosion-resisting stainless steel. Their biggest areas of importance are efficiency and durability.

·         Grundfos manufactures it own personal line of motors, so you can have the peace of mind of knowing that your motor is built to their high standards. Because of this, the chances of overheating or burning out are much less decreased than they would be if it were a lower-quality motor.

·         Finally, Grundfos offers al their products in a variety of different sizes and volts. Depending on what you’re looking to do with it, a single submersible pump can comfortably circulate over 1,000 gallons per minute.

If you’re looking for a pump you can trust, look no further than Grundfos. You can feel comfortable knowing that you're trusting a company has been around for over 60 years and is recognized as one of the best when it comes to pumps. Click on the following picture of a Grundfos submersible pump to be redirected to Plumbersstock.com, where you’ll find a large selection of pumps at discounted prices.

As always, shop smart and renovate away!

The Truth about Gas Water Heaters

            Water heaters use up a lot of energy. Even those that are meant to be conservative can make up a hefty part of your utility bill—about 25% of it, in fact. Since all water heaters will have an impact on your monthly bills in one way or another, it’s important that you choose the right heater for you and your household.

            If you’re looking for the perfect heater for your home, gas heaters are great places to start your search. They tend to be moderately inexpensive to run and maintain, as the newer models use a type of condensing technology to increase efficiency. They also cost less to install in a large majority of cases.

            Most people prefer gas since they’re more economical to maintain. Unlike electric water heaters, which are susceptible to spontaneous power outages, a gas heater will continue to run during those times when the electricity is out. It’s also more affordable to run on a month-to-month basis since most gas companies will offer you rebates or tax breaks (assuming certain conditions are met). Before you buy gas though, you’ll need to assess your current money situation and decide whether or not the benefits and savings down the road are worth the larger installation cost and larger gas line the gas companies want in order to give you their savings.

            In recent years, gas water heaters have seen a lot of improvement thanks to more reliable technology. Heat loss, which was a huge factor in older models, has been reduced thanks to motorized dampers and thicker insulation in the newer models. This allows you not to worry about burning out irksome extra parts, such as fans or pumps, that are needed to keep other water heaters hot.

            Gas water heaters are designed to last an average of ten years before any problems arise. As so, they are great cost effective units which can power any location, from a budget home to a large and populated home. Since newer gas water heaters now come with the option of being tankless, you don’t have to worry about your money being wasted as the heater heats and reheats the stored water all day long. Whether you’re looking to run many different appliances at the same time or just need to replace your current heater for something more affordable, there are gas water heaters out there that can cater to your needs.

            Before you start scouting out a new gas water heater, you’ll want to consider the dimensions of your home. Will the heater be placed in a basement, attic, or garage? Gas heaters need more space as they often heat using a pilot light, so cramming this heater in a tight space could result in a fire or explosion. To make sure you save on the initial installation cost, double check to see if you have the right plumbing and wiring in place.

            Research plenty of different models to find the one that will best fit in your budget and in your home. Be a smart shopper and read the reviews before buying!

           If you're looking to buy a new gas water heater but aren't sure where to start, click on the picture below to be redirected towards plumbersstock, my favorite trusted site for all things plumbing!

            Until next time,

            Sam

Quick Fix on Brizo Faucets

            Hello everyone,

Today we’ll be talking about how to do one quick repair on your Brizo faucet. While I’ll be talking specifically about Brizo faucets, the tips and strategies in this post can be readily used for most other faucets.

We’ll start by spending some time discussing a faucet’s lifespan. All Brizo faucets have a limited lifespan. Depending on the way the faucet is treated and how much it’s used, you can help increase or decrease this lifespan. Like most faucets, Brizo faucets are meant to be durable and long-lasting. With that said, the normal lifespan of your Brizo faucet is about 10 years. In the midst of those years, you may encounter some common problems that all faucets have. While things like a noisy faucet, a leaky faucet, squeaky handles, or a spitting faucet are all common problems with quick fixes, today we’ll only be talking about how to fix a noisy faucet.

If you have an older Brizo faucet that’s in need of repair, depending on the age of the faucet, it may be more beneficial to simply purchase a new faucet. How can you tell if your faucet is ready to be retired?

1.      The threads on the aerator are worn, faded, or corroded.

2.      The finish has mostly faded and there are small cracks visible on the handle or neck.

3.      The internal parts are broken beyond repair or seem to break quickly after being replaced.

If any of this sounds like your faucet, it’s time to remove and replace. It may be a little costly, but if you’re serious about keeping a Brizo faucet while not spending a large amount of money, search online at some third-party plumbing sites to find better deals. If you’re not sure where to start, try Plumbersstock.com. This reliable site offers a huge selection of Brizo faucets are reduced prices, while keeping the same high customer service and quality you except.

Now, if you’re faucet isn’t on its last legs, try these quick fixes to repair your noisy faucet quickly and efficiently.

Noisy Faucet:

If your faucet is screeching or clanking every time you use it, it could be one of two things. Either your washer needs to be replaced, or you have a cracked or broken internal piece. Like anything else, over time, your rubber washer will get worn and frayed with time. If this is the case, your washer has probably grown hard and any water passing over it will cause a loud screech. Replacing your rubber washer with a new one of the same size will fix that problem. Make sure you coat the washer with a thin layer of plumber’s grease before reinstalling your faucet.

If this doesn’t fix the problem, something inside the faucet neck may be broken. While a loud clanking noise may just be the sign of some old pipes, if it sounds like the clanking noise is coming straight from the faucet itself, check to see if anything is broken inside. Take apart the faucet and look for anything that seems out of place or broken. If you find something, take these parts to your local hardware store and ask for a replacement. Once the internal pieces have been replaced, the clanking should stop.
            I hope this was useful for you all! Keep checking back to see more tips, tricks, and guides!
            Sam

Toto Bidets

            Hello everyone!            
           Today, I'm going to talk a subject that isn't touched on a lot. That subject is using a bidet. Now, as of this moment, you may or may not be familiar with what a bidet is. In the United States, they’re not very popular, with few places housing them.           
            For those of you who aren’t familiar with the word, I’ll save you the trouble of looking it up by giving you a brief definition here: bi · det – noun. A low oval basin used for washing one’s genital and anal area.            
           Now, before you turn away and click on another page, consider this: You may not be comfortable with washing your personal areas during the day. You may not even think it’s necessary. However, according to biorelief.com, bidets are not only a more sanitary option when done using the restroom, but they are also beneficial to your health. Because you’ll be cleansing yourself with warm water, you instantly purify the affected area, reducing the risk of bacteria which in turn reduces the risk for infection. Not only that, but a bidet also helps reduce the consumption of toilet paper, meaning less harsh wiping and better overall health for you and the environment.
            The following is an excerpt from biorelief.com:

Almost 80% of all infectious diseases are passed by human contact. Estimates are that 50% of people wash their hands after using the facilities, and many of them do it incorrectly. If you don’t have to use your hands at all there is less chance of passing or coming in contact with a virus. A Bidet does all the cleansing hands free. This decreases and can eliminate the chance of germs from urine and feces to multiply by [coming in] contact with surfaces, and contact with others.

If you’re not comfortable with washing the area yourself, there are alternatives. Toto offers a toilet seat called a Washlet, which integrates an electronic bidet into the seat. After using the restroom, a thin wand comes out and gently sprays warm, aerated water towards your rectum and genital areas. Afterwards, the wand dries the area by gently blowing warm air. When finished, the wand cleans itself and retracts.           
           The whole thing can seem rather awkward, but think of it this way: Science and Medicine are changing at a lightning pace. What’s considered good for health today is updated and changed by tomorrow. Whether you like it or not, science shows that bidets are the more sanitary solutions and do in fact benefit your body’s health. Not only do you help purify your body from potential ailments, but you’re also reducing your consumption of a toilet paper which can cause irritation and does not effectively clean your delicate areas.            
          If you’re serious about increasing your health, consider buying a Bidet from Toto. If you’re unsure as to where to start your search, click on the following link to access a third-part plumbing site which offers a vast selection of Toto products at a reduced cost.           
         Stay healthy!        
         Sam

Traditional Kitchen Faucet Review

            Hey there everyone,

            I’m here to post a quick informational review about buying a traditional kitchen faucet. If you didn’t already know, a traditional faucet is one that has two separate hot and cold water handles, so they’re the very first kind of American faucet that came out. With all the rage about touchless faucets and whatnot, I’m here to advocate for purchasing a traditional faucet.

            Now, I’m no stickler or anything, but if you just LOOK at a traditional faucet, you’ll see where I’m coming from.

            Traditional faucets come in a huge variety of different designs, styles, and finishes, so it’s nearly impossible not to find a beautiful traditional kitchen faucet (I've found a great place to look online is plumbersstock.com) for your exact needs and lifestyle. Whether you’re buying Moen, Kohler, American Standard, or any other manufacture of kitchen faucets, you’ll love having a huge selection to pick from.

            While touchless faucets are cool, they’re very limited to what kind of finishes and styles they can come in, and the technology isn’t very accurate. Sure, we live in a technological era, but perhaps it would be better for us to wait until the touchless technology has been perfected before spending money on a faucet that has a low lifespan, inaccurate readings, and hard-to-find replacement parts.

            With your traditional kitchen faucet, you won’t need to worry about whether or not the sensor picked up on your movements and wait for the water to come out. All you have to do is pick your handle, hot or cold, and TURN ON the water. It’s so easy!

            The biggest nuisance with a traditional kind of faucet is the germ-factor: unfortunately, because you’ll be touching the handles so much, you may harbor all sorts of nasty bacteria and viruses. However, this is readily fixed by wiping down your faucet with a Clorox towelette, which will kill all the germs while making your faucet gleam and sparkle.

            Besides that small inconvenience, there really isn’t much that counts as a con towards a traditional kitchen faucet. Replacements parts are easy to find and affordable to buy, and any good plumber will be able to fix whatever problem your faucet may have, simply because it’s been around for such a long time.

            Now, just because a traditional faucet has history, doesn’t mean it hasn’t been revamped for the modern age. We live in a world of convenience, so don’t think for one second that owning a traditional faucet means giving up some of those optional features you love. Nearly all traditional kitchen faucets come with options such as a pull-out sprayer, a pull-down sprayer, and a soap dispenser. Traditional doesn’t mean living in the past, after all. It simply means classic, and with all the choices you’ll have when choosing your faucet, an elegant and sophisticated double-handled kitchen faucet may just turn out to be the jewel of your kitchen.

            Stay brilliant and happy shopping!
            Sam